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Thomas Daschle

Tom Daschle
Tom Daschle, official Senate photo.jpg
Senate Minority Leader
In office
January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2005
Deputy Harry Reid
Preceded by Trent Lott
Succeeded by Harry Reid
In office
January 20, 2001 – June 6, 2001
Deputy Harry Reid
Preceded by Trent Lott
Succeeded by Trent Lott
In office
January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2001
Deputy Wendell Ford
Harry Reid
Preceded by Bob Dole
Succeeded by Trent Lott
Senate Majority Leader
In office
June 6, 2001 – January 3, 2003
Deputy Harry Reid
Preceded by Trent Lott
Succeeded by Bill Frist
United States Senator
from South Dakota
In office
January 3, 1987 – January 3, 2005
Preceded by James Abdnor
Succeeded by John Thune
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from South Dakota's at-large district
In office
January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1987
Preceded by Constituency established
Succeeded by Tim Johnson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from South Dakota's 1st district
In office
January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1983
Preceded by Larry Pressler
Succeeded by Constituency abolished
Personal details
Born Thomas Andrew Daschle
(1947-12-09) December 9, 1947 (age 69)
Aberdeen, South Dakota, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Laurie Fulton (Divorced 1983)
Linda Hall (1984–present)
Education South Dakota State University (BA)
Military service
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch  United States Air Force
Years of service 1969–1972

Thomas Andrew Daschle (born December 9, 1947) is a policy advisor, lobbyist, former U.S. Senator from South Dakota, and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

A South Dakota native, Daschle obtained a degree at South Dakota State University, and also served in the United States Air Force. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1978 and served four terms. In 1986, he was elected to the Senate, becoming minority leader in 1994. Defeated for re-election in 2004, he took a position as a policy advisor with a lobbying firm, and also became a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. He co-authored a book advocating universal health care.

Daschle was an early supporter of Barack Obama's presidential candidacy, and was nominated by President-elect Obama for the position of Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services after the 2008 election. However, Daschle withdrew his name on February 3, 2009, amid a growing controversy over his failure to report and pay income taxes accurately. He is currently working for The Daschle Group, a Public Policy Advisory of Baker Donelson, a large law firm and lobbying group.

Daschle was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota, the son of Elizabeth B. (née Meier) and Sebastian C. Daschle, both of German descent. His paternal grandparents were Volga Germans. Daschle grew up in a working-class Roman Catholic family as the eldest of four brothers. He became the first person in his family to graduate from college when he earned a B.A. in political science from South Dakota State University in 1969. While attending South Dakota State University, Daschle became a brother of Alpha Phi Omega. From 1969 to 1972, Daschle served in the United States Air Force as an intelligence officer with the Strategic Air Command.


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